Lyon County, Iowa — A number of people gathered Thursday night to run or walk in tribute of Lyon County Deputy Stephanie Schreurs, who lost her life Tuesday after a crash last Friday. And a central Florida boy led them.
Central-Florida 10-year-old, Zechariah Cartledge decided recently that he would run a mile for each law officer or first responder who died while on duty. His dad, Chad Cartledge tells us they’re calling the effort “Running 4 Heroes.” He says Zechariah has always had a big respect for first responders.
He says Zechariah also got to meet the family of that officer when he did the Tunnel to Towers run in New York. He was going to run a mile for every officer or first responder that lost their lives in the line of duty last year. But then he got the idea to do a separate one-mile run for each of them lost this year.
That brings us to Thursday in Lyon County. A number of Lyon County residents wanted to run along with Zechariah Cartledge to honor the memory of Deputy Stephanie Schreurs. Shannon Monson, one of the people organizing the local effort, says that around 50 people did three laps on the Central Lyon track in Rock Rapids and then finished the mile walking to the Sheriff’s Office to place flowers on the deputy’s pickup memorial. She says there were also walk/runs in Larchwood and Inwood.
Cartledge tells us that each officer’s family receives the flag that Zechariah ran with, and that Deputy Schreurs’ flag is on its way to northwest Iowa.
For more information about Zechariah, “Running 4 Heros,” and a link to find out how you can help, click here.
Click here for the memorial story and funeral arrangements.
Click here for a story with more information.
Lyon County picture courtesy Shannon Monson
Zechariah picture courtesy Chad Cartledge
